A violent raid on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State left multiple residents feared dead on Tuesday evening, after a large group of armed bandits stormed the area and opened fire. The attack reportedly began around 6.00 pm, with the gunmen said to number about two hundred.
Residents explained that the attackers operated freely for more than an hour before security forces were alerted and deployed. One of the locals, Ahmed Yinusa, said the military response was delayed due to the long distance between Kaiama and Woro and the poor state of the road leading to the village. He noted that unconfirmed accounts suggested that around ten people had been killed and several homes burnt.
Another resident, Idris Mohammed, reported that six bodies had been taken to the palace of the Emir of Woro, Alhaji Saliu Bio Umar. He added that the bandits later set the palace on fire. It was unclear at the time of reporting whether the Emir was present during the attack.
The member representing Kaiama in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Halidu Danbaba, confirmed the incident and urged both the state and federal governments to extend ongoing military operations to Kaiama. He stressed that recent security gains in other parts of Kwara should be replicated in the north of the state.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the attack in a late Tuesday statement and expressed sorrow over the loss of lives. He described the assault as a desperate reaction by terrorist groups facing increasing pressure from ongoing counterterrorism operations.
The governor extended his condolences to families affected by the tragedy and assured communities that security agencies would intensify their efforts to restore peace.
